Ex Murkowski aide Fuglvog now lobbyist

Posted: May 4, 2013 - 11:10pm

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KODIAK — A former aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski who served time in prison for falsifying his fishing records is now working as a lobbyist.

Arne Fuglvog represented four commercial fishing companies: Aleutian Spray Fisheries, Blue North Fisheries, Fishermen’s Finest and Glacier Fish, according to lobbying records from the first quarter of this year. The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports that Fuglvog is listed as president of Coastal Resource Strategies LLC, a lobbying firm based in Seattle. He is listed on lobbying on issues like the Coast Guard authorization bill.

U.S. Mark Begich’s office confirmed that Fuglvog has been in contact with that office. Begich, an Alaska Democrat, is chairman of the Senate subcommittee on oceans, atmosphere, fisheries and the Coast Guard.

In 2011, Fuglvog pleaded guilty to falsifying his own commercial fishing records for profit. He resigned as a fisheries adviser to Murkowski shortly before his plea deal with prosecutors was made public.

He was sentenced to five months in prison and released last summer. He registered as a lobbyist on Feb. 1 this year, according to federal records.